The Western Bulldogs are believed to be infuriated by reports suggesting star midfielder Josh Dunkley's reported decision to leave the Kennel stems from cultural issues within the club.
Dunkley is contracted to the Bulldogs for the next two year, but is believed to have told the club of his desire to leave Whitten Oval in favour of a move to Essendon this off-season.
According toย SEN'sย Sam Edmund, the Bulldogs are understood to be angered by reports surrounding the 23-year-old.
โIโve spoken to the Dogs on Josh Dunkley and they are furious,โ Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.
โThey are furious with a report a couple of days ago that said that Joshโs main motivation to leave Whitten Oval was because of long-standing culture issues that have been left to fester for years โ the Dogs have rubbished that completely.
โThe facts are that Josh Dunkley wasnโt happy with the Lachie Hunter indiscretion earlier this year and no one at the club was obviously, but he was also disappointed at different things in hub life this year and some of the standards that came to be.
โBut that was widespread in the competition, in that the footy professionalism wasnโt where it would normally be.
โIf Dunkley has an issue with one or two players that arenโt as professional as they need to be, it shouldn't be assumed that he feels there's long-standing cultural issues that have been going on for years.
"Dunkley isnโt considering leaving for cultural reasons - the reasons he is because heโs been sold the massive midfield dream. Heโll be the big banana in there.
"The lure of that, plus a big contract that conservatively speaking is worth $700,000 a season.
"And also the lure of playing with his brother Kyle is unbelievable. They are very close โ the whole family is.
"He is still torn. He has days he leans to Essendon and days he leans to staying."
